I'm Ishino, an Underwater Photographer from Japan
My name is Ishino, and I am an underwater photographer. I first encountered diving during my university years, and after graduating I moved to Hachijojima, a remote island off Tokyo. My experience working there as a dive instructor led me to focus on underwater photography. I currently live in Onna Village on the main island of Okinawa, where I photograph the diverse ecological behaviors of fish and invertebrates in Okinawa's waters. Through this series of articles about what I see, hear, and feel while diving across Japan, I hope to introduce you to the Japanese sea.
The first installment is the story of my encounter with a manta ray in Ishigaki in January.
Ishigaki: One of Japan's Finest Diving Destinations
A manta ray glides gracefully through the waters of Ishigaki
The Nansei Islands stretch along the southwestern edge of the Japanese archipelago, with Ishigaki sitting at the heart of the chain. It is the third-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture, yet the waters surrounding it are far more than a holiday retreat. Ishigaki boasts a remarkably diverse range of environments — tidal flats, mangroves, calm inner bays, powerful open-ocean currents, coral reefs, and rocky reefs — all of which support a rich ecosystem. As a result, Ishigaki offers an extraordinary variety of dive sites: places teeming with vast schools of fish, spots where big-eye trevally congregate, locations where rare gobies can be spotted, and countless other unique settings. It truly is a dream destination for divers.
Ishigaki is one of the most popular diving destinations in Japan, drawing visitors from around the world. In particular, the dive sites known as Manta Scramble and Manta City are renowned as cleaning stations for manta rays, where divers can observe them up close. Manta rays can be seen year-round and are iconic symbols of Ishigaki. On my very first visit to these sites, I encountered manta rays myself. I was completely captivated by the sight of a giant manta ray swimming majestically overhead while small fish busily cleaned it. I remember losing all track of time as I watched the scene unfold before me.
I could never forget the excitement of that moment, and I have returned to Ishigaki every year since in search of another encounter.
Ishino
I had visited the island in summer and autumn — the peak diving seasons — but this trip marked my first January visit. The reason was simple: a local nature guide had told me that winter is actually the best time to see large numbers of manta rays, which came as a genuine surprise.
Manta rays draw divers from far and wide
Plankton: The Key to Spotting Manta Rays
Different marine life can be observed around Ishigaki in each season. Winter is a wonderful time to turn your attention to plankton. The word "plankton" comes from the Greek planktos, and is a collective term for organisms that drift through the water.
Plankton encompasses a wide variety of microorganisms, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, and even fish larvae and crustacean larvae. These organisms are tiny — difficult to see with the naked eye — yet they play an incredibly important role in supporting the ocean ecosystem.
Phytoplankton carry out photosynthesis at the sea surface, producing oxygen and organic matter in the process. Zooplankton feed on phytoplankton and other microorganisms. The energy generated by phytoplankton passes through zooplankton to smaller fish, and then on to larger fish and great marine mammals. Plankton form the very foundation of the ocean food chain.
A conch shell larva discovered in the waters where manta rays feed on plankton
A beautiful juvenile diamond cuttlefish — itself a form of plankton
Manta rays prey on vast quantities of this plankton, and it is well known that they undertake long migrations to chase it. Plankton drifts with the currents and can sometimes be concentrated in one area by ocean currents, wind, and tides. The mass aggregation of plankton — and the way manta rays gather once they sense it — is nothing short of a miracle of nature.
A manta ray feeding on plankton concentrated at the sea surface
Winter Is the Best Time to Watch Manta Rays Gather at the Surface
There is one area where plankton tends to concentrate especially in winter: Kuroshima, a lone island located approximately 20 km southwest of Ishigaki.
The day I visited Kuroshima, the weather was clear but windy. Several manta rays had been drawn to plankton gathered on the western side of the island and were swimming across a wide expanse of water. Legend has it that manta rays have been congregating around Kuroshima for so long that there is a local saying: "You could ride a manta ray all the way to the next island."
Manta rays gathering in search of plankton
At Kuroshima, multiple manta rays moved through the water in pursuit of plankton. I excitedly trained my camera on them. If I chased them too aggressively, they would quickly change direction and swim away. But if I held my position and simply watched rather than pursuing them, they would approach me with their full attention. As long as I didn't chase them, the magical moment would stretch on for a very long time.
If you don't chase them, the manta rays will swim right up to you
A "Surface Manta Ray Dive" — where you can observe the relationship between manta rays and plankton up close — is an incredibly precious experience, one that fills me with excitement at the countless secrets the ocean still holds that humans have yet to discover.
Important Notes on Manta Ray Diving
Ishigaki belongs to the Yaeyama region, which has its own Yaeyama Diving Association. Around 80 diving businesses are registered with the association, all of which are committed to providing safe and sustainable services. Manta rays are an extraordinarily precious part of Ishigaki's natural heritage, and strict rules govern how they may be observed.
In recent years, the number of manta ray sightings around Ishigaki has been declining due to an increase in rule-breaking tourists and operators. Please come to Ishigaki with respect for its marine life — that way, you will have the chance to see manta rays, and those encounters will become beautiful memories that stay with you for years to come.
Japan Underwater Odyssey will continue to share these incredible stories from the sea. Stay tuned!
Travel and photography in cooperation with: Diving shop POLARIS
Related Links
- Ishino Shota on Instagram: shota_gorillahouse
Further Reading
